System for monitoring and controlling access to reservoirs and a cover

ABSTRACT

A system for monitoring and controlling access to reservoirs is described, which comprises: (i) a supervision system ( 10 ); (ii) at least one energy-distribution and communication system ( 20 ); and (iii) at least one cover ( 30 ), the energy-distribution and communication system ( 20 ) being associable with the supervision system ( 10 ) and with the cover ( 30 ), and the supervision system ( 10 ) being remotely associable with the energy-distribution system ( 20 ) Further, a reservoir cover ( 30 ) provided with a covering portion ( 302 ) and an articulation device ( 303 ), the covering ( 302 ) being associated with the articulation device ( 303 ), the cover ( 30 ) comprising an actuation device, a lock element ( 305 ) and a lock receiving element ( 304 ), the actuation device selectively actuating the lock element ( 305 ), which is selectively associated with the lock receiving element ( 304 ).

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring and controllingaccess to reservoirs, particularly those used at service stations, andto a cover developed to be monitored and controlled by the accessmonitoring and controlling system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Access to reservoirs that hold products harmful to the human being andto the environment, mainly underground reservoirs at service stations,should be precisely monitored, controlled and made available only toqualified persons.

However, art present it is known that control and safety locks ofreservoirs are not capable of monitoring the access thereto, or elsepreventing, in a safe way, the access by unauthorised people.

In this regard, and in the case of a fuel reservoir, for example, theconsumer is vulnerable to acquiring an adulterated product, of lowquality, and suffer losses due to damages which such a product may causeto the vehicle. Another harmed party, in the case of an infringements isthe fuel distributing company, the product of which is adulteratedwithout its acknowledgement and authorisation.

For the fuel reservoir taken as an example, there are safety locks forthe purpose of preventing its being infringed. These locks areassociated to the cover existing at the nozzle that feeds the product tothe reservoir, so as to prevent unauthorised people from open it. Forthis purpose, these safety locks are composed, in most part, of anelectric lock actuated by an electronic device, which may be a switch orthe like, and the cover is opened by hand, by means of tools such as acrank, a spindle, a handle, etc.

The disadvantage of these safety locks lies in the fact that it is notpossible to monitor the reservoir covers in order to know when thelatter are open or closed, and further to monitor, by means of storeddata, how many times in a determined period the reservoirs were openedand how long they remained opened.

Another disadvantage of the safety systems used in fuel reservoirs andother reservoirs containing products harmful to the environment is thefact that these systems do not monitor possible leakage of the productsheld therein, for the purpose of preventing contamination of theenvironment and intoxication in the event of people coming into contactwith such products.

Still in the event of a leakage, the owner of the establishment, thereservoir of which has had a leakage, might be punished by fine becauseof the damages caused to the environment, and his business might beclosed down.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a system formonitoring and controlling access to reservoirs, so as to enable one tofollow up the moments of opening and closing them, as well as to controlprecisely the mechanisms used for opening and closing the monitoredreservoirs.

Another objective of me present invention is to enable this monitoringto be affected remotely, in an environment that does not necessarilyneed to be the same environment in which the monitored reservoir is.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a cover providedwith sensors and actuating commands, which, in conjunction with theaccess monitoring and controlling system, brings about precise safety inopening an closing access to the reservoirs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention has the objective of providing a system for monitoring andcontrolling access to reservoirs, which comprises:

-   -   (i) a supervision system;    -   (ii) at least one energy-distribution and communication system;        and    -   (iii) at least one cover,        the enemy distribution system being associable with the        supervision system and with the cover, and the supervision        system being remotely associable with the energy-distribution        and communication system.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a reservoir coverprovided with a covering portion and an articulation device, thecovering being associated with the articulation device and comprising anactuation device, a locking element and a lock-receiving element, theactuation device selectively actuating the locking element, whichselectively is associated with the lock-receiving element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in greater detail withreference to an embodiment represented in the drawings. The figuresshow:

FIG. 1: a block diagram of the system for monitoring and controllingaccess to reservoirs of the present invention;

FIG. 2: a block diagram of the supervision system that composes themonitoring system of the present invention:

FIG. 3: a block diagram of the energy-distribution and communicationsystem;

FIG. 4: a schematic view of the utilisation of the cover that composesthe system for monitoring and controlling of the present invention;

FIG. 5: a block diagram of the cover that composes the monitoring andcontrolling system of the present invention:

FIG. 6: a cross-section elevation view of the cover in closed condition;

FIG. 7: a top view of the cover in closed condition;

FIG. 8: a left side cross-section view of the cover in closed condition;

FIG. 9: a front view of the covering that composes the cover;

FIG. 10: a front view of the cover body;

FIG. 11: a lower view of the cover in closed condition; and

FIG. 12: a lower view of the cover in closed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

According to a preferred embodiment and as may be seen in FIG. 1, thepresent invention is a composition of a equipment that operate inconjunction, perform the function of monitoring and controlling accessto reservoirs.

The system is composed of the following elements:

-   -   (i) a supervision system 10;    -   (ii) at least one energy-distribution and communication system        20; and    -   (iii) at least one cover 30.

These elements intercommunicate by mean of a local network.

The supervision system 10 is the element that manages all the elementsbelonging to the network controlling and monitoring all the informationpertinent to the energy-distribution and communication system 20, to thecovers 30, and to the measuring and leakage-detecting systems (notillustrated).

This system 10 is indispensable to the functioning of the other piecesof equipment that compose the control system of this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the supervision system 10 comprises a firstinformation-processing circuit 101 compatible with a PC-type computer, adata input device 102, for example a keyboard, a view finder 103, forexample a video monitor, a data-exchange device 104, for example a discdrive or CD reader/recorder, a mouse 105 and a communication system 106,which may be a cable modem, that is to say, permanently ready for datetransmission, or one of the type associable with a dialled line, whichneeds to be connected to a telephone line in order to initiate the datatransmission. The communication device 106 may further be constituted bypieces of equipment having radio-frequency or optical fibre cables. Thiscommunication device 106 enables the supervision system 10 tocommunicate with other remote systems away from the environment of thesystem 10.

The first information processing-circuit 101 comprises a main controlsystem, which may be a software, for example, the function of which isto store and process the programming routines necessary to thefunctioning of the components and of the access controlling systemitself, beside storing and processing data received during thefunctioning of the system. This main control system uses a graphicinterface and can monitor other devices that might be added to thesystem network.

The supervisions system 10 is installed remotely, that is, far away fromthe environment where the controlled reservoir is, and is connected tothe energy-distribution and communication system 20 by means of serialchannels 107.

Optionally, the supervision system 10 may comprise a remote console 110associated with the energy-distribution and communication system 20.This console 110 is installed in areas closer to the controlledreservoir and has the function of making available functions and data ofthe system as a whole, whenever the supervisions system 10, which is themain system, is not accessible, for instance in loading and unloadingoperations at night near the reservoir.

However, it is up to the supervisions system 10 to report to the companythat distributes product loaded/unloaded in the monitored and controlledreservoirs, to inform it of the existence of one or more covers 30 thatare not closed, eventual leakage of product, the day and time ofunloading the product into the reservoirs, the locking and unlocking ofone or more covers 30 between others relevant pieces of information.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the energy-distribution and communicationsystem 20 accounts for the distribution of cables and supply of energyand communication date to all the other elements of the system,especially to the covers 30.

This energy-distribution system 20 comprises a distribution box 201, apower supply 22 associated with at least one battery 23 for cases oflack of energy, and a plurality of safety barriers 24 associated withthe power supply 22, that is to say for each cable connected to theenergy-distribution system 20 there is a safety barrier 24. The datacommunication signals of all the devices are joined in this distributionbox 201.

The safety barrier 24 is composed of voltage-limiting Zener diodes andcurrent-limiting resistors.

According to FIG. 1, at least one safety barrier 24 is associable withthe cover 30 by means of the cable 25, and a plurality of safetybarriers 24 of the distribution system are associable with a pluralityof covers 30 by means of a plurality of cables 25. By means of thesesafety barriers 24, the energy-distribution system 20 individuallysupplies energy to the covers 30.

Communication cables go from the system 20 to the supervision systemtoo.

The energy-distribution system 20 is constructed in a metallic box (notillustrated) containing a separate compartment for accommodating thesafety barriers 24, where to field connectors are fixed, and the latterare thus called because they are present in risk areas (ClassifiedAreas).

In addition to the safety barriers 24, the energy supply 22, the battery23 and the converter block 27 are also arranged in the same metallicbox.

The converter block 27 comprises an interface called RS-232, which is aserial communication standard involving a main (host) system called DTE(Data Terminal Equipment) and a peripheral system called DCE (DataCircuit-terminating Equipment). This interface RS-232 uses voltages thatreach +12V and −12V to represent the logical levels. This communicationstandard is widely used and incorporates commercial computers as acompulsory item. It is used for connecting only two pieces of equipmentper “port”. It is considered to be the standard communication forcompatible PC's (personal computers).

The inverter block 27 further comprises an interface RS-485, which is aserial communication standard that enable up to 32 pieces of theso-called “Nodes” pieces of equipment to be interconnected by means of 2or 4 wires. This interface RS-485 uses differential voltages lesser than5, to represent the logical levels. This communication standard is usedfor communication with the covers 30.

Bering in mind the different characteristics presented by the twocommunication standards, there is a need to make the traffic ofinformation between them compatible, so as to take advantage of theircharacteristics in each case.

Thus, in the face of its topology, the network RS-485 between theenergy-distribution and communication system 20 and the covers 30 havean address associated with each node of the network. This allows all thenodes to “hear” the data that travel along the line and only “reply”thereto, if they are pertinent to their address. This require theanswers from the covers 30 to be summed in order to return to the HostRS-232.

Another characteristic of the RS-485 is the presence of carrierEnabling, when a node becomes active in the line, sending data. Thecontrol of these carriers is effected in the distribution system 20,within the converter block 27, by means of a microcontroller actuatingon the RS-485 drivers that are arranged so as to precede the safetybarrier 24 associated with the covers 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the cover 30 is installed at the points ofaccess to the reservoir (unload, suction and measurement), close to theholding chamber 33.

This holding chamber 33 stores the liquid that leaks out of thereservoir when the latter is supplied, in order to prevent contaminationof the environment in which the reservoir is.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5-11, the cover 30 is physically provided with acovering portion 302 and an articulation device 303.

The covering 302 is the main element of the cover 30, being made ofmolten aluminum with low copper and magnesium contents. It iscylindrical in shape, comprises a base 314, a first cylindricalprojection 313 that is substantially perpendicular to the base 314, anda second cylindrical projection 315 that is substantially perpendicularto the base 314 and may be associated with the holding chamber 33. Thefunction of the covering 302 is to close the reservoir. All thecomponents of the cover 30 is mounted thereon, except for the lockreceiving element 304, which is mounted close to the holding chamber 33.

The first cylindrical projection 313 comprises a first end 316 attachedto the base 314 and a second end 317 opposite the first end 316. A plate318 is associated with the second end 317 of the first cylindricalprojection 313, so as to form a hermitic compartment 319. The plate 318is metallic and provided with a diameter equivalent to the diameterformed by the first cylindrical projection 313.

The hermetic compartment 319 has, at the portion close to the base 314of the covering 302, a sealing rubber fixed by means of screws that areevenly distributed.

The articulation device 303 is made of molten steel and allows thecovering 302 to tilt, for example up to 110° from the opening. Thisarticulation device 303 comprises a pin 308, a sensor 309 and a fitting310. The sensor 309 is axially associated with the pin 308 and arrangedin a recess portion 311 of the articulation device 303. The fitting 310is positioned in the recess portion 311, below the sensor 309. The pin308 may be removed for emergency opening and has a threaded portion tofacilitate its removal.

A first identification label 321 is located on the upper outer portionof the covering 302. It is manufactured from plastic and may have thecolour and the trademark of the distributing company, in addition toother sayings that meet the Code of Consumer Defence.

A second identification label 322 is located at the central portion ofthe first identification label 321. The second label 322 may containsayings that clearly identify the kind of product unloaded into thereservoir, beside having a colour code to help in this identification.

Close to the covering 302, in the hermetic compartment 319, the cover 30comprises an actuation device, a lock receiving element 304 and a lockelement 305. The actuation element selectively actuates the lock element305, which is selectively associated with the lock receiving element304.

The actuation device comprises a second information-processing circuit31, electronic circuits, a step motor 32, and at least one communicationinterface 36.

The lock receiving element 304 is made of molten aluminium with lowcopper and magnesium contents, constituting a conical recess for guidingthe shoulder (not illustrated) of the covering 302 and a receptacle (notillustrated) into which the lock element 305 fits.

The lock element 305 is made of non-magnetic molten stainless steel andhas a locking-confirmation sensor. Where this element 305 passes thereis a guiding conical recess (not illustrated), the function of which isto guarantee the alignment of the covering 302 with the lock receivingelement 304.

The function of the lock element 305 is to lock the covering 302 on thelock receiving element 304, when the covering 302 is in the closedposition. The element 305 is moved by the actuation device and has beendesigned for bearing strains to the effect of maintaining the covering302 duly lacked.

If the reservoir already has a holding chamber 33, the articulationdevice 303 is associated with the chamber 33 by means of rivets or otherfixing means and further associated with the covering 302 by means ofthe pin 308. In this case, the lock receiving element 301 is fixed closeto the holding chamber 33 by means of rivets or other facing means.

When the reservoir does not have a holding chamber, the cover 30comprises a body 301, the covering 302 and the articulation device 303.In this way, a holding chamber 33 is provided close to the cover 30, thefatter being fixed close to the body 301.

The body 301 is cylindrical, hollow and comprises a projection 312 thatis substantially opposed to the covering 302.

Just as the covering 302, the body 301 may have various other shapes inaddition to the cylindrical one, varying according to the need of thereservoir.

When the cover 30 comprises the body 301, the association of thecovering 302 with the articulation device 303 continues to be effectedby means of the pin 308, while the association of the articulationdevice 303 with the body 301 is effected by means of rivets or otherfixing means. In this way, the lock receiving element 304 is fixed closeto the body 301 of the holding chamber 33.

By moans of the step motor 32 and a reduction box system (notillustrated), the rotation movements are changed into a linear drivingof the lock element 305.

There is a lock controller (not illustrated) having control electroniccircuits that send pulses and commands for direct and reverse controlledactuation of the motor 32, which corresponds to the movement of the lockelement 305 in the unlocked-cover and locked-cover positions.

The send information-processing circuit 31 transmits processed data tothe electronic circuits, the electronic circuits are associated with thestep motor 32 and so, the former control the functioning of th later.The step motor 32 actuates the opening and closing of the lock element305.

At least one communication interface 36 is associable with thesupervision system 10 and with the energy-distribution and communicationsystem 20.

Further to compose the cover 30, there is at least one battery 34 and acable connector 307. The battery 34 is associable with theenergy-distribution system 20 and is constantly charged by this system20 with a current of approximately 50 mA by means of the cable 25associated with the cable connector 307.

The battery 34 feeds the electronic circuits and brings about theactuation of the lock element 305. It is rechargeable and composed ofcells made of NiCd, Lithium, Lithium-ion, etc., encapsulated in a singleblock containing a current-limiting resistor.

The cover 30 is entirely associated in its main points; so the cover 30comprises a plurality of sensors 35 and a data-storing device 37associated with the second information-processing circuit 31.

The sensors assigned to the cover 30 are of the reed-switches,microswitches and tilt-switches type. The reed-switches sensors areposition sensors, while the tilt-switches sensors are sensitive toinclinations or unlevelling of the cover 30.

The cable connector 307 comprises a (male) receptacle that is attachedto the plate 318 of the hermetic compartment 319. In this way, the cableto be connected should have, at an end, a (female) sealed and watertightplug shaped at an angle of 90 degree.

By means of the connector 307, one effects the connection between thecover 30 and the energy-distribution system 20, beside facilitating thereplacement of the cover 30 when it has a defect.

The cover 30 has a second information-processing circuit for localtreatment of the conditions obtained by its sensors.

All the operations that take place with the cover 30, such as: opening,closing, unlocking, locking, communication failure, low battery,remaining open for along time, etc., are stored in the localdata-storing device 37, independently of the operational state of thesupervision system 10.

The history of this information basically bears the date and time of theevent that has occurred, the device number (relative “address” of thecover) and the event code that informs about the situation that hastaken place. This history is recorded in a cyclic way, that is, the lastmore recent events will always be stored, without the possibility oflack of space in the data-storing device 37.

In addition to the treatment of these operation recordings, the cover 30can perform some autonomous functions, independently of command from thesupervision system 10, that is, the second processing circuit 31 of thecover 30 is also provided with a secondary control system, which may bea secondary software, for example, which commands the autonomousfunction routines that are performed independently of the existence ofthe supervision system 10.

Some autonomous functions that are periodically performed by he cover 30are:

-   -   Automatic locking of time course; for a cover 30 that has been        unlocked the time of inactivity of this over 30 is counted. Wen        a determined previously programmed time is exceeded, the cover        is automatically locked.    -   Immediate automatic locking: the cover 30 locks automatically        with the mere closing of the covering 302. This state is a        parameter available in the system, which may be enabled or not.    -   Local diagnosis: the cover 30 analyses the behaviour of its        sensors, detecting abnormal situations and evaluating the sate        of the actuators. In this way, locking and unlocking operations        are carried out, in order to diagnose the actual functioning of        the system. In addition, the state of charge of the batteries 34        is continuously appraised, and all the conditions are reported        to the supervision system 10.    -   Monitoring the cover-opening time: the cover 30, upon detecting        the opening, also receives a maximum time in which it may remain        open. In this case, the cover 30 counts this time, marking it in        its internal registers, if the time is exceeded.    -   Automatic unlocking by low energy: the cover 30, upon detecting        the low state of its batteries 34, effects an automatic        unlocking, in order to enable one to make an easy maintenance of        its components. This automatic unlocking is also registered in        the history of operations of the cover 30.

The functions described above may also be performed by means of commandsfrom the supervision system 10.

In addition to these functions, some points and specific positions ofthe cover 30 are sensed namely: the pin 308 of the articulation device303, the alignment, the locking, the unlocking and the opening of thecovering 302.

At the pin 308 of the articulation device 303, the sensing is effectedby means of an immersion-proof sensor 309, installed at the end of thepin 308. In the event of undue removal of this pin 308 (tampering with),a signal is detected and immediately reported to the supervision system10. Moreover, this situation remains internally recorded, in the eventof a failure of communication with the supervision system 10.

The sensing of the alignment is effected by means of positioning sensorof the reed-switch type, installed on the lock element guide of thecovering 302. It enables one to verify which cover 30 is correctlypositioned and in locking conditions.

In the event of a failure in the alignment, the supervision system 10will consider the cover that is incorrectly closed.

The sensing of the locking is effected by means of another read-switchtype sensor, installed at the end of the lock element 305, so as tocheck the fitting of the latter into the lock receiving element 30. Inthe event of a failure, the supervision system 10 will not consider thecover 30 that is correctly locked.

The sensing of the opening is effected by means of a tilt-switch-typelevelling switch, which is fixed to an electronic-circuit plate. Thissensing verifies if the cover is in the opened position, that is, out ofthe pre-established levelling.

All the information monitored locally is sent to the supervision system10, which is always maintained updated, including with recordingsrelating to the operation of opening and closing, alarms, tamperingwith, etc.

A preferred embodiment having been described, one should understand thatthe scope of the present invention embraces other possible variations,being limited only by the contents of the accompanying claims, whichinclude the possible equivalents.

1. A system for monitoring and controlling access to reservoirs,comprising: (i) a supervision system; (ii) at least oneenergy-distribution and communication system; and (iii) at least onecover actuated by the supervision system through the energy-distributionand communication system, wherein the supervision system is positionedremotely from the reservoirs, the supervision system comprising a firstinformation-processing circuit associated to at least oneenergy-distribution and communication system and to at least one cover,the cover comprising a covering portion that comprises an hermeticcompartment where a lock element actuated by a step motor and aplurality of monitoring and controlling sensors are mounted.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the covering portion comprises anarticulation device containing a pin and a sensor, the sensor beingaxially associated to the pin.
 3. The system according to claim 2,wherein the covering portion is bascule moved by means of thearticulation device.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein thecover comprises a second information-processing circuit associated tothe step motor and controlling the step motor rotation.
 5. The systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the step motor rotation is transformedinto the lock element linear movements, said linear movements beinglocking and unlocking movements.
 6. The system according to claim 4,wherein the monitoring and controlling sensors are controlled by thesecond information-processing circuit, the second information-processingcircuit comprising a secondary control system with routines.
 7. Thesystem according to claim 6, wherein the cover comprises at least onebattery associated to the step motor and a data-storing deviceassociated to the second information-processing circuit.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises at least onecommunication interface simultaneously connected to the supervisionsystem and the energy-distribution and communication system.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the supervision system comprises adata-input device associated to a view finder and to theenergy-distribution and communication system by the firstinformation-processing circuit.
 10. The system according to claim 9,wherein the supervision system comprises a main control systemassociated to the first information-processing circuit, the main controlsystem having routines.
 11. The system according to claim 10, whereinthe supervision system stores information and data processed by thefirst information-processing circuit by means of a data-exchange device.12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the supervision systemcomprises a communication device associated to the firstinformation-processing circuit, the communication device transmittingdata to distinct remote systems.
 13. The system according to claim 1,wherein the supervision system comprises a remote console associated tothe energy-distribution and communication system.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the energy-distribution and communicationsystem comprises at least one battery and a plurality of safety barriersassociated to an energy supply.
 15. The system according to claim 14,wherein the energy-distribution and communication system is associatedto the supervision system by means of at least one serial channel. 16.The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one cover isassociated to at least one safety barrier of the energy-distribution andcommunication system by means of a cable.
 17. The system according toclaim 16, wherein the safety barrier comprises voltage-limiting diodesand current-limiting resistors.
 18. A cover for reservoirs, whereincomprises a covering portion containing an hermetic compartment where alock element actuated by a step motor and a plurality of monitoring andcontrolling sensors are mounted to monitor and control the coveringportion.
 19. The cover according to claim 18, wherein the hermeticcompartment is positioned in a base of the covering portion, thishermetic compartments being composed by a first projection perpendicularto the based, the first projection containing a first end fixed to thebase and a second end opposite the first end and associated to a plate.20. The cover according to claim 19, wherein the plated is metallic andcomprises a cable connector.
 21. The cover according to claim 18,wherein the covering portion comprises an articulation device containinga pin and a sensor, the sensor being axially associated to the pin. 22.The cover according to claim 21, wherein the covering portion is basculemoved by means of the articulation device.
 23. The cover according toclaim 22, wherein the articulation device is associated to a holdingchamber of the reservoirs.
 24. The cover according to claim 18, whereincomprises a second information-processing circuit associated to the stepmotor and controlling the step motor rotation.
 25. The cover accordingto claim 24, wherein that the step motor rotation is transformed intothe lock element linear movements, said linear movements being lockingand unlocking movements.
 26. The cover according to claim 25, wherein bylocking of the covering portion the lock element is associated to a lockreceiving element disposed closer to the hermetic compartment.
 27. Thecover according to claim 24, wherein the monitoring and controllingsensors are controlled by the second information-processing circuit, thesecond information-processing circuit comprising a secondary controlsystem with routines.
 28. The cover according to claim 18, wherein thecover comprises at least one battery associated to the step motor and adata-storing device associated to the second information-processingcircuit.